Toni Anderson
March 14, 1935 – November 27, 2019
“Hi, Sugar!”
Altona ‘Toni’ Anderson died in Potomac, MD at the age of 84, of complications caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
Born in Farmville, VA, Toni was the fourth of six children to Altona (Trent) and Rev. Vernon Johns; a civil rights pioneer. She graduated from Spelman College and married Dr. John W.R. Anderson, Capt. DC. U.S.N. As the wife of a naval officer, Toni moved often until settling in the Bay Area in 1970.
Toni began to make her mark in the Oakland business community as Community Projects manager for the Clorox Company headquarters; planning events, and sponsoring projects. She spearheaded fundraising efforts for the East Oakland Youth Development Center which has grown into a shining, national model for youth development. She later worked for the City of Oakland’s Department on Aging as an administrator until retirement. With her strong presence, intelligence, quick wit and social flair - Toni was instantly memorable.
She pursued her love of interior design by creating a business primarily through referrals. She eventually had projects extend to the east coast that allowed her to combine work with family visits in the Washington, DC area. She enjoyed public speaking engagements to talk about black history and her father’s role as grandfather of the civil rights movement.
Other accomplishments include:
The Clorox Company Foundation, Board Member
San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, Member (appointed by Governor Jerry Brown)
Black Filmmaker’s Hall of Fame, Inc., Fundraiser & Volunteer
Toni had three daughters with ex-husband, John, and watched them eventually migrate to the Washington, DC metro area after high school. For the next 40 years she entertained frequently out of her condo near Lake Merritt and remained an active community member. Her southern hospitality came forth when she invited just about anyone into her home; cooked comfort foods and amused them with her storytelling. She was direct, she was real, she talked loud and laughed loud. She enjoyed the company of men, quoted classic poetry by memory and followed it with a dirty limerick. She was a voracious reader; a lover of the arts and a beautiful piano player.
Toni was attracted to interesting people and she collected them over the years and nurtured her relationships going back to childhood. Her generosity was deep and if you were motherless - she was your mom. One of her closest friends said: “she was supremely loyal to her friends, no matter what or how they behaved and lived their lives. She loved you more than you loved yourself”. She had a curious nature; she loved to explore people and enjoyed being studied by others. She cultivated a diverse group of friends that satisfied her need for attention; to be engaged and to be heard. She truly lived a fabulous and full life up until approximately five years ago. For Alzheimer’s to target Toni was the cruelest thing to witness. Her daughters moved her to the east coast in 2018 to be near her and find the best care. She will be remembered as a Super-mom; a strong & loving mother, grandmother and friend.
Toni is survived by her daughters, Shelly Wolfe (George), Jocelyn Hill (Keith), and Millicent Olive (Cordell); five grandchildren; two sisters, Enid Johns and Jeanne Adkins; and a host of other relatives and friends.
A service will be held in early 2020. Contact the family at: tonisdaughters@gmail.com
‘Bye, Sugar Pie!’
Love her
Thank you Toni
Thank you Toni for always being a beacon of light.Thank you for always making people feel welcomed and known when they walked in the room. Thank you for speaking your truth no matter the situation. Thank you for being a friend to my father, Edward S. Fredericks, and for staying by his side even in the challenging times. You were a real one Toni!! I love and appreciate you. Miss you Sugar!
Over our 40 year relationship, Toni wore many hats including professional mentor; confidant and friend; and essential surrogate grandmother for a new mother with no clue. Toni schooled and inspired me, and helped me develop confidence as a single mom during my son's first 10 years. It's a challenge to write only a few words because Toni was a complex person with paradoxical traits, such as elegant and aristocratic demeanor and yet down-to-earth personality; eloquent and nuanced speaker but commanding expletives in order to produce the perfect conversational exclamation point; such a deep thinker with psychological and philosophical underpinnings yet ready for a breezy exchange as needed. God, I miss those conversations, the shared and differing perspectives, and our many belly-busting laughs.
To Toni's family: She loved you fiercely and with enormous pride in your choices and accomplishments. There was seldom a conversation of at least 10 minutes length when she did not mention you, and then doubled the duration of our conversation! I look back on those 40 years with enormous gratitude. Your mother raised you, and in a way, she raised me, too. It was a privilege to be the friend of Altona Johns Anderson!
I was heartbroken when I found out about my aunt Toni passing away. I loved her energy and personality. She was there for me when my mother passed away and glad that I spoke to her and thanking her for taking the time out. She always made me laugh & was always straight up. I love & miss my aunt r.i.p??
The world will be a little less bright without Toni. The admissions office at Oberlin College benefited from the support of Toni and her family over the years during our annual Vernon Johns Multicultural Visit Program, where the legacy of her father Vernon Johns was celebrated as an 1918 alumnus of Oberlin College. Toni enjoyed sharing her honest, insightful and encouraging stories.
My condolences go out to Toni’s daughters. Toni always spoke fondly and highly about her three daughters. She played such an important role in my life. I lived next door to Toni for 7 years in Oakland, California. She was such a great story teller and a true sage. I will miss her dearly
